Friday, November 22, 2013

Forgiveness and Love

The Capacity to Forgive and the Capacity to Love

The capacity to forgive is directly related to
the capacity to love, and it is in our act of forgiving others, that we
find forgiveness. For it is in the turning away from our own
self-concern, and our own self-will, that we begin to see that our
salvation is directly linked to the salvation of our neighbor. To refuse
to forgive our neighbor, is do cease having the capacity to love, "for
he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen (1 John 4:20)?"

The ability to forgive others requires work on our part, for we must
cooperate with the grace that comes as a gift of the Holy Spirit. Since
we have been forgiven much, we, in turn, must forgive much. The Lord
Himself told us that we must forgive our brother seventy times seventy,
no easy feat, to be sure. Yet it is this same Lord Who gives us the
power, and the will, to be quick to forgive those who have hurt or
offended us. It is this very Christ Who demonstrated the importance of
forgiving others, when He forgave those who were crucifying Him. "Lord,
forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34)."

With love in Christ, Abbot Tryphon

Photo: Each member of our brotherhood was gifted with one of these beautiful
monastic shawls by our beloved Ethiopian friends. Just in time for the
Winter cold!

Martyrs Onesiphorus and Porphyrius of Ephesus (284).
Venerable Matrona, abbess, of Constantinople (492).
Venerable Theoctiste of the isle of Lesbos (881).
New
Hieromartyrs Parthenius bishop of Ananiev, Constantine, Demetrius,
Nestor, Theodore, Constantine, Victor, Elias priests, Joseph deacon and
Hieromartyr Alexis (1937).
Venerable Onesiphorus the Confessor of the Kiev Caves (1148).
Martyr Alexander of Thessalonica (305).
Martyr Anthony of Apamea (5th c.).
Venerable John the Short of Egypt (422).
Venerables Eustolia (610) and Sosipatra (635) of Constantinople.St. Nectarius (Kephalas), metropolitan of Pentapolis (1920) (Greek).
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "The Quick Hearer of Mt. Athos" (10th c.).
Venerable Simeon Metaphrastes of Constantinople (960).
Venerables Euthymius (990) and Neophytus, the Serbians of Mt. Athos (Greek).
Martyrs Narses and Artemonos (Greek).
St. Helladius, monk (Greek).
Martyrs Claudius, Castor, Sempronian, and Nicostrat (Romania).You can read the life of the saint by clicking on the highlighted name.THANKS
to all of you who have been able to contribute towards the support of
the monastery. These difficult times of economic hardship have impacted
the monastery, and those of you who have been able to donate, have been
our lifeline. May God bless you for your generosity, and kindness.
With love in Christ, Abbot TryphonDonations can be made directly to the monastery through PayPal, or you may send donations to:All-Merciful Saviour Monastery
PO Box 2420Vashon Island, WA 98070-2420 USAThe Scripture Readings for the Day

Colossians 4:10-18

10 Aristarchus
my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about
whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.12 Epaphras, who is one
of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently
for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. 14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. 15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.

Closing Exhortations and Blessing

16 Now
when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the
church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”18 This salutation by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen

Luke 13:31-35

31 On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, “Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.”32 And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’ 33 Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.

Jesus Laments over Jerusalem

34 “O
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those
who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children
together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! 35 See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”